Calla lily plant named ‘Bloody Mary’

ABSTRACT

‘Bloody Mary’ is a new variety of calla lily plant having inflorescences with a red-colored spathe that produces 2-10 inflorescences per tuber. The height of the top of an inflorescence above the soil can reach up to 48 cm. The leaves are green with transparent maculations present and have a leathery texture.

Botanical classification: Zantedeschia sprengeri.

Varietal denomination: ‘Bloody Mary’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of calla lily, botanically known as Zantedeschia sprengeri and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Bloody Mary’.

‘Bloody Mary’ is a product of a planned breeding program, which had the objective of creating Zantedeschia hybrids for pot flower production in a wide range of colors with a large, classic flower shape. The breeding program began in 1989, and the new cultivar is a seedling selected from the crossing of a Zantedeschia sprengeri selection referred to as Z071902 (female parent, unpatented) with a Zantedeschia sprengeri selection referred to as Z071428-945 (male parent, unpatented). ‘Bloody Mary’ was selected in 2011 by the inventor in 't Zand, The Netherlands as one flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross.

The first act of asexual reproduction of ‘Bloody Mary’ by tissue culture was performed by the inventor in September of 2011 in 't Zand, The Netherlands. Subsequent asexual reproductions by tissue culture at the same location have demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are retained and reproduced true to type through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

The following observations, measurements and comparisons describe plants grown from 12-14 weeks in 14 cm pots in 't Zand, The Netherlands under greenhouse conditions, which approximate those generally used in horticultural practice. Color references are made to the 2001 R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used.

The present invention has not been evaluated under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary with variations in environment without a change in the genotype of the plant.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and determined to be basic characteristics of ‘Bloody Mary’ which, in combination, distinguish this calla lily as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Red-colored spathes;     -   2. Large inflorescences; and     -   3. High inflorescence production.

Further, when compared to calla lily plant named ‘Red Charm’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 27,822), the upper surface spathe color of ‘Red Charm’ varies between Greyed-Purple Group RHS 187B and 187C, whereas the upper surface spathe color of ‘Bloody Mary’ varies between Red Group RHS 45A and 53B, with a secondary color that varies between Yellow Group RHS 6A and 7B.

Table 1 provides similarities and differences of ‘Bloody Mary’ to its parents, Zantedeschia sprengeri selection Z071902 and Zantedeschia sprengeri selection Z071428-945.

TABLE 1 ‘Bloody Mary’ Similarities Differences Z071902 Plant height Spathe color Number of inflorescences Spathe shape Z071428-945 Leaf shape Number of inflorescences Spathe size Plant height Spathe color Leaf shape

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying photographic drawing illustrates the new variety, with the colors being as nearly true as is possible with color illustrations of this type:

FIG. 1 is a photograph of a plant of the new variety.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

-   The plant:     -   -   Size.—Height of the leaf canopy above the soil: 9-40 cm.             Height of top of inflorescences above the soil: 21-48 cm.             Diameter: 6-8.5 cm.         -   Form.—Erect.         -   Number of inflorescences per tuber.—Size 14-16 cm in             diameter: 2-6 inflorescences. Size 16-18 cm in diameter: 3-7             inflorescences. Size 18-20 cm in diameter: 4-8             inflorescences. Size 20+ cm in diameter: 6-10             inflorescences.         -   Branches.—Average Number: 9.3. Color: Between Yellow-Green             Group RHS 144A and 144B.         -   Leaves.—Size: Width: 4-11.5 cm. Length: 14-21 cm. Number per             plant: 20-29. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Apiculate. Base:             Between sagittate and truncate. Margin: Undulate; having a             color between Yellow-Green Group RHS 146A and 147B. Color:             Upper surface: Green Group RHS 137A to Yellow-Green Group             RHS 147B, having transparent maculations of approximately             White Group RHS 155A. Lower surface: Yellow-Green Group RHS             146A to 147B, having transparent maculations of             approximately White Group RHS 155A. Veins: Configuration:             Pinnate. Color: Upper Surface: Yellow-Green Group RHS 149A             to 154D. Lower Surface: Green Group RHS 137A. Surface             quality: Leathery. Petiole: Length: 3-25 cm. Diameter:             3-8 mm. Color: The base is White Group RHS 155A, the upper             part is Yellow-Green Group RHS 144A to 144B.         -   Roots.—Color: White. Branching: Similar to other             Zantedeschia varieties. -   The inflorescence and seeds:     -   -   Spathe.—Size: Length (measured from opening to tip): 6-9 cm.             Width: 4.5-6 cm. Height: 6-12 cm. Color: Upper surface:             Varies between Red Group RHS 45A and 53B, with a secondary             color that varies between Yellow Group RHS 6A and 7B. Lower             surface: Varies between Orange-Red Group RHS N34A and Red             Group RHS 46B, with a secondary color that varies between             Yellow Group RHS 6A and 7B. Vein color: Between Orange-Red             Group RHS N34A and Green Group RHS 143B. Shape: Funnel.             Apex: Apiculate. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Undulate. Texture:             Smooth (upper and lower surfaces).         -   Spadix.—Size: Length: 28-42 mm. Diameter: 5-9 mm. Color:             Between Yellow Group RHS 13A and Yellow-Orange Group RHS             14A. Position relative to spathe: Upright.         -   Peduncle.—Size: Length: 15-36 cm. Diameter: 5-9 mm. Color:             The upper part is between Green Group RHS 137A and             Yellow-Green Group RHS 144A, the lower part is Green-White             Group RHS 157C. Texture: Smooth.         -   Reproductive organs.—Location of female organs: Basal             position of the spadix. Location of male organs: Upper             position of the spadix. Perianth: Conspicuous. Stamens:             Presence: Not visible before pollen release. Number: More             than 20. Pollen amount: Abundant; similar to ‘Picasso’ (U.S.             Plant Pat. No 15,282). Color: Between White Group RHS 155A             and 155B. Anther: Shape: Round. Length: Less than 1 mm.             Color: Between Yellow Group RHS 13A and 14A. Filament:             Length: Less than 1 mm. Color: Between White Group RHS 155A             and 155B. Pistils: Number: 15 to 30. Length beyond perianth:             About 1 mm. Stigma: Shape: Round. Size: Less than 1 mm.             Style: Length: Less than 1 mm. Color: Between Yellow Group             RHS 12C and Yellow-Orange Group RHS 15C. Ovaries: Texture:             Smooth. Length: Between 1 to 10 mm. Width: Between 1 to             10 mm. Color: Top color is between Yellow-Green Group RHS             N144D and 154C, the bottom color is between White Group RHS             155B to Green-White Group RHS 157C.         -   Seeds.—Length: 4-7 mm. Width: 3-6 mm. Color: Between             Yellow-Green Group RHS 150A and 151A. Amount: Between 1-60. -   General:     -   -   Disease resistance.—No unusual susceptibility to diseases             noticed to date.         -   Pest resistance.—No unusual susceptibility to pests noticed             to date.         -   Heat tolerance.—No heat tolerance.         -   Hardiness.—Not hardy.         -   Flowering.—In general, the time from planting to first             flowering takes eight weeks. However, tubers stored for a             longer period before planting may flower earlier — up to             five weeks after planting.         -   Lastingness.—About two weeks on the plant.         -   Fragrance.—None. 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of calla lily plant named ‘Bloody Mary’ as herein described and illustrated. 